Temple's new president to highlight affordability, civic involvement

In his inaugural address Friday morning, Temple University president Neil D. Theobald is to announce a $50 million, five-year boost for new research aimed at improving the city and the region, and a plan to lower student debt that will offer incentives for students to graduate within four years.

Theobald, a former Indiana University administrator who became Temple's 10th president in January, is expected to deliver his speech at 10 a.m. in the renovated, historic Baptist Temple on the North Philadelphia campus.

Gov. Corbett, City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, 13 area college presidents, and other dignitaries are to take part in the daylong festivities, including symposia on a range of educational topics and an evening concert with Temple's musical groups.

In his speech, made available to The Inquirer, Theobald is to hint at an announcement on a "landmark new affordability pact" with new students that "will be a guarantee of affordability" and "a model for higher education in the United States." The pact, he said, will offer incentives for students to graduate within four years, but he offered no further details.

Theobald is to lay out a six-point plan for the 39,000-student university that, in addition to student debt, touches on teaching, research, diversity, entrepreneurship, and a commitment to interact more with the city.

"Temple is Philadelphia's public university," Theobald, 57, said in his office at Sullivan Hall this week. "Our mission is to address issues in Philadelphia, and we're willing to put all kinds of resources into that."

One proposal calls for Temple to become more involved in helping the city solve its problems, such as the Philadelphia School District's funding crisis. Theobald, a professor, researcher, and expert in education finance, will participate in an afternoon symposium on funding.

The $50 million for research, which Theobald touted as the largest-ever investment in the university's academic program, will be used to bring in new faculty to explore problems deemed most pressing in the city and state, he said. The research will be carried out across disciplines, he said.

"This is about research that improves people's lives," he said.

Theobald said Temple would look to increase the number of students who earn their degree within four years to over half. Currently, about 38 percent finish within that time, he said. That is just under the state average of 39.7 percent, according to 2010 data compiled by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

If students can finish on time, Theobald said, the cost of their education will decrease. Temple students graduate with more than $30,000 debt on average.

"We are going to attack student debt levels," said Theobald, the first in his middle-class family from Peoria, Ill., to go to a university.

While plans are not fully formed, Temple will offer classes when students need them, offer more academic advising, help students struggling to pass courses, and keep tuition as low as possible, he said.

"We will focus our undergraduates on their graduation date from the first day of class," he said.

Temple recently announced that it would seek a 3 percent increase in state funding next fiscal year to help with expenses.

Theobald also is to address the goal of diversity. More than 40 percent of Temple students are nonwhite, which he called "a huge strength." This year's freshman class reflects a 10 percent increase in Latinos and an 11 percent increase in African Americans. The university has more than 2,500 international students from 110 countries.

New educational approaches also will be at the forefront, he said.

"I can see a day when learning occurs in our residence halls and coffee shops as much as in our classrooms and research labs," he said.

Temple also will focus more on turning students into entrepreneurs in addition to preparing them for the career of their choice.

"You've got to be innovative and ready to deal with change," he said. "They could end up doing jobs that they don't even know exist today."

Over his first nine months, Theobald, who earns a base salary of $450,000, has rounded out his administrative team, appointing a provost and a chief marketing and communications officer, and filling five of six open dean positions. Those include the appointment of David Boardman, former editor of the Seattle Times, as dean of the media and communication school. He has also ushered in Temple's recent move into the American Athletic Conference.

Theobald is teaching a freshman course on organizational change, in which last week he had students give mock inaugural speeches and outline plans for the university. The main focus of many, he said, was improving food service, keeping dining halls open later, and serving greater variety.

"Think food court on steroids," Theobald said.

Like Theobald, the students will spend the next few months developing their plans into action.

Inaugural vows by area college presidents in the last year:

Ali Houshmand, Rowan University: Said tuition and fees would never increase by more than the rate of inflation while he was president. Committed to growing from 14,000 students to 25,000, and expanding from about $24 million in funded research to $100 million in 10 years.

Alison R. Byerly, Lafayette College: Called for increased interdisciplinary learning and "a three-dimensional liberal arts college" that integrates academic, social, and professional experience. "In this model, Lafayette will be not an ivory tower, but an integrated circuit, a dynamic network in which the student experience is energized by ongoing interchange between the educational environment and the world beyond."

Helen F. Giles-Gee, University of the Sciences: Called for a focus on research in synch with the university's mission and the needs of society and collaboration with other universities, government, business, and communities.

Christopher L. Eisgruber, Princeton University: Committed to staying on a course of excellence. "I will work with you enthusiastically: To sustain the excellence of what we are doing now. To realize more perfectly the ideals to which we are committed. And to demonstrate by argument and deed the extraordinary value of Princeton University."

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Become more involved in helping the city solve problems, such as the funding crisis facing schools.

Invest $50 million in research, including bringing in new faculty members.

Offer more academic advising and help for students struggling to pass courses.

Address issues of diversity on campus.EndText